Block and maritime structure formed therefrom



R. J. O'NEILL. 3,399,535

BLOCK AND MARITIME STRUCTURE FORMED THEREFROM Sept. 3, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18. 1966 Sept. 3, 1968 R. J. O'NEILL 3,399,535

BLOCK AND MARITIME STRUCTURE FORMED THEREFROM Filed May 18. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,399,535 BLOCK AND MARITIME STRUCTURE FGRMED THEREFROM Raymond Joseph ONeill, 11 Chippewa Road,

' Yonkers, N.Y. 10710 Filed May 18, 1966, Ser. No. 551,025 17 Claims. (Cl. 61-3) ABSTRACT or THE DISCLOSURE Maritime structures such as jetties, breakwaters or armours for other maritime structures and artificial blocks for constructing such structures. The blocks are of substantially equal dimensions within a given structure and are interlocked forming a water-permeable assembly within which the individual blocks cannot be moved laterally or vertically without moving several adjacent blocks. The individual blocks comprise a massive, central elongated body portion having a plurality of base legs extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof and extending generally longitudinally of the body portion in a common direction in a generally conical arrangement. The roots of the legs are integral with the body portion and disposed closer to an upper end of the body portion than to the lower end thereof. The roots are disposed along an axial length of the body portion which is considerably less than one-half the axial length of the central body portion. The base legs have their free ends concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body portion/The blocks are arranged into an assembly with their legs overlapping laterally and vertically interlocking the blocks on opposite sides thereof with one another to provide a completely interlocked assembly as to lateral and upward movement. The overlapping and interlocked legs define spaces comprising voids of different volumes with sufficient volume of voids to permit flows of water therethrough without creating excessive internal pressure in the structure.

This invention relates generally to maritime structures and more particularly to specially shaped artificial blocks to be used as armour for maritime structures or for constructing such maritime structures.

The use of specially shaped artificial blocks made, for example, of unreinforced concrete, and designed to be used as armour for maritime structures or for constructing maritime structures of great strength such as breakwaters, seawalls, embankments, breakwater heads and general coastal protection works is known. Particularly shaped artificial blocks which have found great application in the above-mentioned maritime structures and uses are known as Tetrapods. These known structures consist of four conical protuberances radiating or projecting in different directions from a common center. These artificial blocks are without a body portion and the entire block consists of the four. separate protuberances joined together.

The known artificial blocks, however, are constructed such that when they are used in constructing a maritime structure or an armour for maritime structures, they promote interlocking and form a stable mass with'a high degree of internal friction. However, their configuration limits the void ratio, which is in the region of 50%, in that substantially a single void ratio, in. the structures made therewith, can be established by'the-known blocks.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved specially shaped artificial block of great strength usable forconstructing armour for maritime structures and for constructing maritime structures such as breakwaters, seawalls, embankments, caissons and the like. 1 X

Patented Sept. 3, 1968 A feature of the artificial blocks, according to the invention, is their construction and the relative position and shape of the legs which are designed to provide full interlock and form a very stable mass while at the same time permitting use of different void ratios in maritime structures constructed with the blocks. As a result, seafiow inside the armour or maritime structures, made according to the invention, are safeguarded against dangerous uplifts set up by receding waves and the permeability or water perviousness of structure facings can be varied.

Another feature of the blocks, according to the invention, is that the gaps formed between the projecting legs while permitting different void ratios and therefore different permeabilities, are easy to position to form structures and their versatility permits controlled energy dissipation of waves so that the small streams moving through the structures, according to the invention, can be controlled as to size. Furthermore, due to the different sea conditions, wave reflection in front of structures and overtopping of such structures, can be avoided in accordance with the prevailing sea conditions.

The artificial blocks, according to the invention, comprise a massive or heavy elongated body portion having a plurality of legs projecting or extending outwardly from the body portion and in a direction longitudinally of the elongated body portion. Each of the legs has a root integrally joining it with the body portion. The roots are disposed circumferentially along a jointure area extending circumferentially of the body portion substantially in a common plane or the roots are offset longitudinally of the body portion. Each leg has an outermost free end spaced outwardly from the body portion and the free ends of the legs lie substantially along a circle substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The blocks are arranged with the legs interlocked to form water permeable structures.

Other features and advantages of the maritime block, in accordance with the present invention, will be better understood as described in the following specification and appended claims, in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a block, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a plurality of blocks, according to FIG. 1, illustrating the interlocking thereof in a maritime structure;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of another maritime structure or arrangement of blocks, in accordance with FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a maritime structure with the blocks of the type in FIG. 1 arranged at random;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of maritime blocks, according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a maritime structure, in accordance with the invention, for controlling beach erosion and wave action.

A maritime block, in accordance with the invention,

-is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. The block comprises a centrally elongated body portion 10 having a plurality of legs 11-14 projecting outwardly from the body portion, extending generally longitudinally and in a longitudinal direction of the body portion or its longitudinal axis. Each of the legs has a root 17 integral with the body 3 stant cross-section dimension. The free ends of the body and the legs may be beveled to avoid any sharp edges.

The blocks are made of a suitable material, for example, concrete, and the body is provided with reinforcing means such as reinforcement rods and the legs comprise reinforcing rods 21. The body and legs are illustrated as having reinforcement but need not be made of reinforced concrete. The body portion is generally thicker in cross-section than the legs and the thickness of each of the parts, the body and the legs, may be any'desired dimension. In order to easily handle the individual blocks lifting eyes 23, 24 are provided on opposite ends 10a, 10b of the body portion, however, the units or blocks can be picked up readily with slings and the blocks can be made without lifting eyes.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the blocks are arrangeable to form a maritime structure 29 in which the body portion thereof is arranged standing upright and the legs are arranged interlocked. In the drawing the individual blocks in the various structures illustrated have the same reference numerals to make it easier to understand the interlocking of the blocks. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower part of the maritime structure 29 has a lower void ratio than the upper portion of the structure, and as illustrated in the drawings, the legs are seatable on a common plane with the central body portion so that a very rigid and stable mass is formed by the structure. The higher void ratio on the upper part of the structure permits rivulets or streams of water to flow between the various block body portions 10 without excessive reflection and the higher density or lower void ratio in the under portion will allow water to flow through in smaller streams without tending to lift the mass. Moreover, the relatively denser or lower void ratio on the lower part can be used in a structure, for example, to preclude beach erosion.

The maritime structure is constructed with the pair of legs 11, 13, joined to the body portion 10 closer to the upper end 10a than the other pair of legs 12, 14 overlying this other pair of legs. The overlying or overlapped relationship can be variably set as desired by spacing of the body portions. The closer the body portions of the blocks are brought toward each other the smaller the gaps between the legs and thus different void ratios can be established in a structure with this kind of arrangement.

A typical example of the application of the blocks of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7 in which an arrangement of the type illustrated in FIG. 3 is applied to a beach 30 in which a structure 31 is arranged at an angle relative to a shore line 33 so that waves 35 are damped in the lower or bottom half of the beach illustrated on the drawing as the lower beach portion of FIG. 7 so that a safe swimming area is, for example, developed. Moreover, beach erosion is reduced in the lower beach and beach erosion can be eliminated and sand allowed to build up.

The blocks, according to the invention, may be disposed in an inverted position as illustrated in FIG. 4 in which case an upper or shorter portion having the end 10a of the individual block body portions can be seated on a resting surface and the legs extend upwardly therefore increasing the void ratio in the lower portion of a structure 36. In this arrangement the legs 12, 14 having their roots closer to the end 10b are disposed overlying the legs 11, 13 having roots closer to the other end 10a of the body portion.

Although the structures heretofore illustrated show the various blocks arranged in an ordered pattern, the blocks may be dropped or placed in position at random in a manner illustrated in FIG. 5 in order to form a maritime structure such as a seawall armour and the like. In this case the void ratio can be varied along the maritime structure if desired. This is accomplished by placing the individual blocks in an upright position as illustrated and others in an inverted position, shown to the left of the drawing, in FIG. 5; and also in a leaning condition.

The fact that the blocks can be arranged or used to form a structure permits the blocks to be used as armours, seawalls and the like. The blocks in such cases are, of course, not arranged in a single row or line but the width or depth dimension of such a structure may'call for several rows of blocks. The random arrangement, as can be seen in the central part of the structure in FIG. 5, allows a relatively low void ratio to be constructed into a maritime structure using blocks according to'the invention. The relative high density, or low void ratio, can be used in constructing a maritime caisson, not shown. Once the caisson boundary is constructed then a filler material, such as sand, can be used to fill the area bounded by the caisson and a' solid structure is formed inexpensively. The void ratio is substantially less than 50% so that the caisson is substantially impermeable.

A second embodiment of blocks, according to the invention, is illustrated in FIG. 6 in which a central body portion 50 is provided with a plurality of legs 51-54 projecting outwardly from the body portion and having free ends disposed substantially in a circle concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body portion of the block 50. i

In this construction the roots are disposed circumferentially of the block body portion 50 substantially along an area extending circumferentially of the body portion without any offset upwardly or downwardly between the various individual adjacent legs. In a construction of the block of the type illustrated in FIG. 6, the legs extend outwardly from the body portion from roots disposed closer to one end of the body portion than the other as in the first embodiment.

The two types of blocks can be constructed relatively small or very large, insize and weight, in dependence upon their ultimate use. The thickness of the legs and body portion may be the same or different. Moreover, the blocks can be disposed parallel instead of at an angle, with a beach to be protected from erosion. In this case the beach parallel to the structure will not be eroded since the waves are deflected and the lower part of the structure will have only small gaps so that the beach sand will be kept from washing away as the waves recede.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the structures or arrangements shown in the drawings result in interlocking of the blocks such none can be moved without picking up or moving the entire mass. Furthermore they will see many applications for the blocks not discussed above. For example, the blocks can be used to form a wall arrangement or shore protective arrangement on rivers at bends to avoid bank erosion due to the increased water velocity on the outward side of the river bend.

Furthermore although the blocks are illustrated as principally applicable to maritime structures the invention is applicable to use for dams and the like. It can be seen than an arrangement such as that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, either as a single row or a plurality of parallel rows, can be used as a basis for building an earthen dam or the like, not shown. An arrangement of the type in these two drawings can be covered with earth or stones and a strong immovable dam maybe constructed with the sides thereof converging toward the top of the dam having, for example, a spillway. If the legs of the blocks are received in an elongated recess or trough cut into the ground below grade 'level on which the dam rests the strength of such a dam is increased.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made within the true spirit and scope. of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An artificial block used in conjunction with other alike blocksas armour for maritime structures, as breakwaters, seawall embankments, beach building apparatus and the like comprising an elongated body portion, a plurality of base legs extending outwardly from said body portion and in a direction longitudinally only toward the one end of said body portion, said plurality of legs comprising at least three legs each of said legs having a root integrally joining it with said body portion, the root of each leg being disposed along a jointure area spaced inwardly from the other end of said body portion and extending circumferentially of said body portion, the jointure areas of said legs being disposed axially of said body portion along an axial length thereof less than onehalf the axial length of said body portion, each leg having an outermost free end fixedly spaced from said body portion, the free end of at least some of said legs lying substantially in a common circle concentric with said body portion and said legs having sufiicient length to interlock with legs of other similar blocks in an interlocked assembly defining a maritime structure.

2. An artificial block according to claim 1, in which said legs have a substantially uniform cross section dimension along the major length thereof.

3. An artificial block according to claim 1, in which said legs are substantially straight, and in which said body portion is disposed centrally of said legs and is substantially straight.

4. An artificial block according to claim 1, in which said body portion has a substantially uniform cross section dimension along the major length thereof and is straight.

5. An artificial block according to claim 1, in which each free end of each leg being disposed angularly spaced from the other legs and the free ends of said legs being disposed substantially in a plane common to one end of said body portion.

6. An aritificial block according to claim 5, in which said body portion has a longitudinal axis disposed substantially concentric with said circle.

7. An artificial block according to claim 6, in which said leg roots are disposed substantially equidistant from one end of said body portion and are closer to Said end than the other end of said body portion.

8. An artificial block according to claim 6, in which alternate ones of said leg roots are joined to said body portion closer to one end than the other leg roots, whereby said roots are alternately offset longitudinally of said body portion.

9. A maritime structure comprising a plurality of alike artificial blocks, each block having an elongated body portion, a plurality of legs extending outwardly from said body portion and in a direction longitudinally only toward the one end of said body portion, each of said legs having a root joining it with said body portion, the root of each leg being disposed along a jointure area spaced inwardly from the other end of said body portion and extending circumferentially of said body portion, each leg having an outermost free end fixedly spaced from said body portion, the free end of at least some of said legs lying substantially in a common circle concentric with said body portion, and said blocks being arranged with the legs in interlocking relationship.

10. A maritime structure according to claim 9, in which said blocks define dilferent size voids among the legs so that said structure is water permeable.

11. A structure such as a jetty, breakwater, seawall, or armour for another structure such as seawalls and the like suitable for exposure to the action of moving water,

said structure having permeability to water, stability under wave action and hydraulic roughness comprising, a plurality of artificial blocks of substantially the same dimensions arranged interlocked with one another, each of said blocks comprising a massive, elongated central body portion, a plurality of legs spaced around said body portion and extending outwardly from said body portion on opposite sides thereof and extending generally longitudinally only toward the one end of said body portion in a generally conical arrangement, each of said legs having a root integrally joining it with said body portion, the root of each leg being disposed along a jointure area spaced inwardly from the other end of said body portion and extending circumferentially of said body portion, the jointure areas of said legs being disposed axially of said body portion along an axial length thereof less than onehalf the axial length of said body portion, each leg having an outermost end fixedly spaced from said body portion, the ends of at least some of the legs lying in a common circle concentric with the longitudinal axis of said body portion, said plurality of blocks being disposed assembled with the legs of the blocks adjacent one another overlapping at an angle relative to each other laterally and in a vertical direction interlocking the blocks on opposite sides thereof with one another to provide a stable completely interlocked assembly as to lateral and upward movement, the overlapping legs defining spaces comprising voids of different volumes with sufficient volume of voids to permit flow of water therethrough without creating excessive internal pressures in said structure, whereby one unit cannot be moved laterally or upwardly Without moving several adjacent blocks.

12. A structure according to claim 11, in which said blocks have said areas of jointure closer to one end of said central body portion than to the other end thereof.

13. A structure according to claim 12, in which said blocks are arranged with said central body portion in an upstanding position and the legs extending downwardly and comprising base legs, said blocks being disposed in at least one line of said blocks, whereby the upper part of the next adjacent body portions define spaces comprising voids of greater volume than spaces comprising voids defined by said interlocking legs and lower portions of said body portions.

14. A structure according to claim 11, in which said legs comprise four base legs.

15. A structure according to claim 11, in which said legs have a greater total mass than said body portion.

16. A structure according to claim 11, in which said blocks are arranged in random dispositions.

17. A structure according to claim 11, in which legs comprise four legs equally spaced circumferentially of said body portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,632 4/1959 Danel et al. 61-37 X 1,554,605 9/1925 Smith 6l3 3,267,679 8/1966 Morse 6l3 FOREIGN PATENTS 858,076 5/1940 France. 337,796 5/ 1959 Switzerland.

EARL I. WITMER, Primary Examiner. 

